Jim Staricka, Soil Scientist, Williston Research Extension Center

Bill Sheldon, Farmer Co-operator (Nesson Valley)

 Don Jr. and Craig Steinbeisser (VS Inc.), Farmer Co-operators (13-Mile & 29-Mile Corner)

Jerry Bergman, Director, Williston Research Extension Center/Eastern Agricultural Research Center

In northwest North Dakota and northeast Montana (a.k.a. the MonDak region), almost unlimited potential exists to produce and process high value crops through development of center pivot irrigation systems. The irrigated production of high value crops would promote use of the region's water and agricultural land resources to improve its economy and population growth. Considerable interest has been created for commercial potato and potato seed production under center pivot irrigation in the region. This applied research project will demonstrate the potential yield and quality of irrigated potato production in the MonDak region under center pivot irrigation on light (sandy) to medium (loam) textured soils.

The specific objectives of this study were to  (1) Determine the potential yield and quality of potatoes produced using center pivot irrigation systems in fields of various soil textures in the MonDak region. (2) Evaluate the economics of production of two potato varieties in the MonDak region. (3) Identify the limiting factors of potato production in the MonDak region and to determine whether they are manageable.

Currently two frozen French fry potato processors are offering contracts in the region: J.R. Simplot Co. of Grand Forks ND and Aviko-USA of Jamestown ND. The farmer cooperators involved in this study have contracts with both processors.

Two potato varieties were grown. Shepody is a white, medium-maturity variety for early harvest and Russet Burbank is a russet, late-maturity variety for regular harvest. Shepody produces fewer but larger tubers than Russet Burbank. The earlier maturity of the Shepody variety allows for an earlier startup of the processing plant while the superior storage properties of Russet Burbank allow for year long processing.

All ten test fields in this study had center-pivot irrigation systems. The test fields were located at three sites in Williams County North Dakota (Fig. 1). One study site was the Nesson Valley, which is 25 miles east of Williston. There were six potato fields at this site for a total of 600 acres. Soil texture of these fields ranged from sand to loam. Both varieties of potatoes were grown. The potatoes at this site were harvested for immediate haul to the processors.

The second and third sites were near the 13-Mile Corner and the 29-Mile Corner north of Williston. Four of the potato fields were included in this study for a total of 420 acres. A fifth field was not included in the study. The soil texture of these fields was predominately sandy loam, but one field had soil with textures ranging from fine sandy to loam intermixed with the sandy loam soil. Russet Burbank was the only potato variety grown at these sites. These potatoes were harvested and stored on-site for delivery to the potato processors this coming summer.

Certified diseased free potatoes were planted in mid April to early May. A private crop consultant aided in irrigation, nitrogen, disease, and insect management. The research measurements of soil water content and meteorological data also were made available to the farmers to aid in irrigation scheduling.

Harvest began in mid-August and was completed in mid-October. Before each field was harvested, research samples (one sample per 40 acres,  5-plants per sample) were taken and analyzed for yield and quality (Table 1).

Because of the vacancy in the Area Extension Value-Added Specialist position, an economic analysis is not included in this
report. The analysis will be included in a later report.

Acknowledgements - The following assisted with funding for this project:

J.R. Simplot Company · Aviko USA · Red River Valley Potato Growers Association · NDSU Williston Research Extension Center · MSU Eastern Agricultural Research Center · North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission · USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service · Williston Area Economic Development Foundation